Even though the “cryptojacking” cyber threat has been dominating news headlines over the last couple of months, ransomware is a risk that computer users in the High Desert should keep in mind. The spectacularly damaging WannaCry and NotPetya ransomware attacks that took place in 2017 and 2018 are unlikely to be repeated because information security…
Video gaming platforms go through trends and cycles. In the early 1980s, it took a while for video game consoles to establish market dominance over arcade machines. Once compact disc and DVD technology became part of desktop computing, game developers turned their attention to releasing elaborate PC titles; this started a Golden Age of PC…
Two new cyber threats have been detected by information security firms in early March; one of them appears to be part of a hacktivist campaign while the other involves fake Little Caesars pizza coupons. The hedge funds already affected by Beyond the Grave are known to invest in companies and sectors that work with the…
Despite getting negative press reports about the practice, tech giant Apple continues to suppress services rendered by shops that are not aligned with the Apple Store or the company’s very small network of authorized repair partners. In late 2018, Antonio Villas-Boas of Business Insider wrote about his experience repairing his wife’s MacBook Pro after an…
At the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, tech journalists were excited by the prospect of smart home automation, which is set to have its breakthrough year in 2017. If you have thought about welcoming smart appliances and other devices into your Apple Valley home, 2017 would be a good starting point; nonetheless, you…
One of the biggest misconceptions often heard by information security experts is related to Apple products, particularly those that run on the macOS platform formerly known as OS X. Quite a few Mac users in the High Desert and across the world somehow believe that they are impervious to malware attacks, and this is a…
After an embarrassing series of bugs, technical issues, delays, and mishap, Microsoft finally announced a wide release of the Windows 10 October 2018 Update, which became safely available to all desktops, laptops, tablets, and hybrid devices two months after the failed initial roll-out. A couple of positive developments emerged from this problematic Windows update, and…
Desktops, laptops and hybrid devices were some of the hottest items gifted this holiday season, and this means that many people across the High Desert are now contemplating what they should do with their old computers. If this is your situation after the New Year, you have a few options besides throwing away your old…
It has been more than two months since Microsoft made a difficult but ultimately wise decision to indefinitely postpone the release of its Windows 10 October Update, and it looks as if the delay will continue well into December. The 1809 Update has been plagued with bugs; some were mildly irritating while others affected overall…
Online retail activity tends to be higher during Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but this does not stop millions of Americans from extending their internet shopping throughout December. The holiday shopping season is highly anticipated not just by consumers but also by cybercrime groups who specialize in identity theft. If you suspect that your desktop,…